On January 21, 1921, the Redcar lifeboat, Fifi and Charles, was summoned to the aid of the Greek collier Aphrodite, which ran aground.

Battered by heavy seas, the Aphrodite crew, plus local fishermen who had boarded the ship to help, were in desperate need of rescue.

Usually the lifeboat was launched using horses, but because none were available, townsfolk pulled it to sea.

Redcar woman Margaret Emmans, nee Crosby, fell under the wheels of the launching carriage and was crushed to death.

Eighty-eight years later, she will be among 750 people remembered on the first national RNLI memorial, to be unveiled in September at the charity’s Dorset HQ.

And if there’s anyone locally related to Margaret, they’re invited to the ceremony.

Dave Cocks, of Redcar Lifeboat Station, said: “The RNLI is trying to get direct descendants of the people on the memorial involved.

“We’ve never had anyone report to us, saying they are related to Margaret Emmans, so we thought we’d appeal. We can’t get them down there, but at least we can let them know they’d be welcome.

“We’d love to find someone to partake in the ceremony on Margaret’s behalf.”

William Guy, plus Richard, John and Edmund Picknett, will be other Redcar names on the national memorial.

Mr Guy was a lifeboat crew member washed overboard on Christmas Day, 1836, while trying to rescue sailors from a coal carrier. A Guy family stone still stands at Redcar’s St Peter’s church, but no other details are known.

He’ll be attending the ceremony as Richard Picknett was his great great uncle while John and Edmund were great cousins. All three drowned on January 9, 1901, when they fell from the family’s fishing coble while trying to help stricken steam trawler Honoria.

Relatives of Mary Emmans should call the boathouse on 01642 484491 by May 31.